Division as Grouping

Division as Grouping

Division can mean finding how many equal groups can be made from a total. In these problems, you start with a set amount and split it into groups of the same size. The answer tells you how many groups you can make.

Method

1. Read the numbers carefully.
   • The total is the amount you begin with.
   • The divisor tells the size of each group.
2. Make equal groups.
   • Count out the total items.
   • Place the items into groups with the same number in each group.
3. Count the groups.
   • The number of complete groups is the quotient.
   • If there are leftovers, they are the remainder.
4. Write the division sentence to match your grouping.

Check your answer

Multiply the number of groups by the size of each group. If there is no remainder, the product should match the total. If there is a remainder, add it to the product to see whether it matches the original amount.

Helpful tip

Think of division as a sharing-and-counting task: you are not finding how many go in each group, but how many groups you can make.